Friday night i decided to take my dash apart to paint the trim. Then i decided to take the shifter apart and pull it outta the car and take a look at it. I was very board that night. So then i decided after looking at it i was going to shorten it 2 inches. I put it in a vice and took a hacksaw and cut it. Re-threaded the shifter and scred the shift *** back on. now i have a short shifter. Note pic's are from my phone.

picture of it cut and how much i cut off.


pic of the **** screw on


Installed in car
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that looks sweet! ha, a DIY short shifter, nicely done. IF i wanted to do the same (can i do that to an auto???) how did u re-thread it to make it match exactly the same as before???
thanks

 

Yea Im very interested in how you re-threaded it. Are the threads as strong as the original? Do you think there would be any problems with them stripping in the future?

 

TEACH ME YOUR WAYS!

 

He used a die to cut the threads onto the shaft.

 

wow... you realize a "short shifter" isnt just a cut shaft...

your throw is still the same as before... if anything, your shifting is going to be sloppier...

 

I beg to differ. A shifter is just a lever and the point where the shifter attaches to the cage is the fulcrum. When you shorten a lever in regards to the fulcrum you increase the effort required to move the load but decrease the distance required. try taking a pencil or a dowel and putting it on a piece of paper after putting a nail through it to make the fulcrum or pivot point. measure how far you have to move the one end in order to move the other. Now cut half of the distance on the side you were moving off and then try again and see how little you have to move it in comparison to how far the other side moves. You'll notice a difference.

.....pwned

 

Um the throw is shorter mike. Geometry will show that. Your hand moves less with a shorter shifter.

Now, this isint really a good way to build a real short shifter, but if it works for him then that is fine. A true short shifter moves the pivot point up and shortens the shifter. The reason being is to keep the leverage, shift and length optimal.

In his case, angular movement is the same, while actual distance traveled by the shif **** is lowered.

 

right thats what i mean... the angular movement is the same... i thought that was "throw"?

 

The throw is the arc length referring to how far you have to move the ****. Hence, simply shortening the shifter reduces throw but reducing arc length.

 

blah blah. how did he thread it

 

Once again he used a die to thread the shaft.

 

yuup! If that explanation didnt help, just try shifting w/ your hands lower down on the shaft. (of course try this while car is not in motion).

 

wth is a die

 

Click here for some material to read up on.

 

hah thanks bud

 

thats a nice read up, is that the ONLY way to do it though??? i don't have access to those sort of things in that read up. thanks

 

You can buy tap and die sets at Home Depot and Lowes. It is one of those tools that lies around alot but when you need it you thank god for having it.
Small set,
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...gjj.0&MID=9876

 

Yes, they are defintely useful tools. I don't have a set, but I need to get one. I've used them a few times.

 

yes i used a die, thread size was12X 1.5 metric. same as your lug nut thread if that helps. the throw is shorter cause the point at witch it moves is closer to the falcome point like what was said. Alough it dose not take any more effert to shift. I didn't feel like spending money on a shifter plus if it didn't work then i'd have to. also i don't have to worry about it breaking or something coming apart like i hear about aftermarket shifters. By looking at it the most u can cut of would be 2.5 inches and have no prob threading the stock **** back on.after that the shaft gets thicker and then you would have to retap the **** and go to a bigger size die on the shaft. I might think about taking 3/4 inches off the bottom and re welding it. to make it a true short throw shifter.. you can get a tap and die kit at a auto parts store sears lows home depot or other fine retailers that sell tools... they are handy incase you strip a bolt or something or cross thread something.